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9781585281657

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Palliative Pharmacy Care CJHP - Vol. 63, No. 1 - January-February 2010, page 56 By providing a blending of published literature, unpublished data, and expertise, the editor intends this book to be a practical approach to palliative care and the unique role of the pharmacist. It is a resource for pharmacists who are new to palliative care, as well as those who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in this specialized area of practice.<br>The first section of the book, The Palliative Care Spectrum: Providing Care across Settings, addresses care for patients with a diagnosis of cancer, as well as those with a variety of other disease states that are sometimes overlooked. It also discusses palliation in various settings, including the pediatric and intensive care areas. <br>Other sections focus on individual symptoms such as anorexia and cachexia, anxiety and depression, agitation and delirium, dyspnea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, constipationand diarrhea, secretion management, nutrition and hydration issues, and, of course, pain management. The chapters on pain and symptom management are set up in a format whereby the symptoms and pathophysiology are discussed first, followed by discussions of assessment and management. Often included are tables or charts summarizing causes or exacerbators of a particular symptom and treatment options, with recommended dosing.Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments are discussed. Key points and clinical pearls are provided throughout the book; the chapters relating to pain and symptom management include case studies as well.<br>The final section of the book, Beyond Drug Therapy: Key Issues for Pharmacists in Palliative Care, deals with ethical issues, communication, research, establishing a palliative care service, and education.<br>Although this reviewer did find the book to be a valuable resource, it was somewhat less informative in certain aspects than other references that are now available. The

Palliative Pharmacy Care CJHP Vol. 63, No. 1 January February 2010, page 56 By providing a blending of published literature, unpublished data, and expertise, the editor intends this book to be a practical approach to palliative care and the unique role of the pharmacist . It is a resource for pharmacists who are new to palliative care, as well as those who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in this specialized area of practice.The first section of the book, The Palliative Care Spectrum: Providing Care across Settings, addresses care for patients with a diagnosis of cancer, as well as those with a variety of other disease states that are sometimes overlooked. It also discusses palliation in various settings, including the pediatric and intensive care areas. Other sections focus on individual symptoms such as anorexia and cachexia, anxiety and depression, agitation and delirium, dyspnea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, constipationand diarrhea, secretion management, nutrition and hydration issues, and, of course, pain management. The chapters on pain and symptom management are set up in a format whereby the symptoms and pathophysiology are discussed first, followed by discussions of assessment and management. Often included are tables or charts summarizing causes or exacerbators of a particular symptom and treatment options, with recommended dosing.Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments are discussed. Key points and clinical pearls are provided throughout the book; the chapters relating to pain and symptom management include case studies as well.The final section of the book, Beyond Drug Therapy: Key Issues for Pharmacists in Palliative Care, deals with ethical issues, communication, research, establishing a palliative care service, and education.Although this reviewer did find the book to be a valuable resource, it was somewhat less informative in certain aspects than other references that are now available. The recommendations for the management of symptoms and dosing charts are helpful, but not as comprehensive as those in some other references. In addition, the clinical pearls were a little disappointing; they were not really clinical pearls but often were more like an introduction to a specific topic. However, the suggestions for networking and listings of other palliative care resources, available traineeships, and further education are definitely valuable, and this information is often not readily available from other sources.Other interesting topics discussed were the ethical issues and advance directives. Also, I appreciated the focus on the role of the pharmacist as going beyond that which applies to the pharmaceutical realm. The book continually stresses that in the palliative care setting, the pharmacist has a role that encompasses several capacities, including supporting the family and caregivers, ensuring continuity of care, ensuring informed decision-making, attending to spiritual well-being, and supporting function. These roles are often overlooked by pharmacists but are very important, particularly in the palliative care setting. It should also be mentioned that because this is a US publication, there are some differences in medications, laboratory values, and possiblyscreening tools.Gerri Scott, BScPharm, FASCPPharmacyBrandon Regional Health CentreBrandon, Manitoba--Gerri Scott, BScPharm, FASCP CJHP (01/01/2011)

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Jennifer M. Strickland, PharmD, BCPS received her doctor of pharmacy degree with highest honors from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, Florida, USA. She completed a specialty pharmacy residency in pain management and subsequently was the pharmacist for the Pain and Palliative Care Service at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center for six years. Dr. Strickland then went on to develop a pain and psychiatry outpatient clinic specializing in the chronic pain patient with comorbid psychiatric conditions or addictions. She is an assistant clinical professor for the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and is the director of a specialty pharmacy residency in pain and palliative care. Dr. Strickland is board certified in pharmacotherapy (BCPS) by the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and is a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy PRN Pain Management Committee. In addition, she is a member of the American Pain Society (APS), the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), the Florida Pain Initiative (FCPI), and the Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (FSHP). She has published in the areas of pain management and palliative care and is a national speaker on these subjects.

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